Mass layoffs: Will global job cuts by Microsoft, IBM, Google, Meta, others affect Indians?

The mass layoffs by technology companies, including global tech giants, are continuing unabated, with close to 1 lakh jobs expected to be slashed this year globally.

Tech giants such as Microsoft, IBM, Intel, Google, and Meta have all announced job cuts, which have shaken the tech workforce across the world. Whether such global job cuts will have an impact on the Indian workforce of these tech giants is still unknown, but in the long run, the axe could fall on their Indian operations as well.

As far as the job cuts are concerned, Microsoft announced that it would lay off more than 9,000 people across the globe, mainly in its Xbox and gaming units.

This is almost 4 per cent of its global workforce. On the other hand, Intel has announced that it will cut around 20 per cent of its workforce in its chip teams. Reports say that Intel is on a restructuring exercise and many employees at its head office in Santa Clara, US, will lose their jobs. The company is also laying off people at its automotive chip unit in Germany.

IBM has also laid off thousands of people across its HR department, which is a clear indication that AI is automating parts of its HR processes. Reports say that Amazon has already done four rounds of layoffs in the first half of this year. There are reports that Google has also laid off people in the product teams and in its platforms and devices division.

“The recent layoffs by global tech giants like Microsoft, IBM, and Intel stem from a mix of macroeconomic and strategic factors. There is growing uncertainty in the US market, driven by geopolitical tensions, inflation, and signs of slowing consumer demand. As businesses prepare for possible shifts, such as a change in trade policies or tariffs, they’re prioritising profitability and future-readiness through restructuring. For India, the immediate job market impact may not be drastic, but it signals a phase of cautious optimism. While global volatility may slow down aggressive hiring, it also opens up opportunities for India to strengthen its position as a cost-effective, tech talent hub,” Aditya Narayan Mishra, the MD and CEO of CIEL HR, told THE WEEK.

Market experts do point out that mass layoff in the tech space is a strategic reset and not just a downturn. “In 2025, major tech giants like Microsoft, IBM, and Intel are making headlines—not for innovation, but for mass layoffs. This sudden wave is not merely about cost-cutting but signals a deeper strategic reset. Automation, AI integration, and shifts in global demand have rendered many traditional roles redundant.

Companies are reallocating resources toward high-growth areas like cloud, generative AI, and quantum computing,” remarked Manoj Kandoth, Founder and Managing Partner, Urjja Resources.

This expert feels that for India which is a key talent hub, such kind of layoffs bring mixed signals. “While job losses hit the mid-level workforce, especially in legacy tech and support roles, there’s growing demand for specialists in data science, cybersecurity, and AI. The layoffs also reveal a global recalibration of workforce models from bloated headcounts to agile, skill-focused teams. Ultimately, this is not a tech winter, but a tech transition painful for many, but setting the stage for a leaner, smarter industry,” added Kandoth.

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